Lamp harp



3 July 28, 1936 J. T. ATKlNSO N LAMP HARP Filed Dec. 13, 1934 fnuenio 7; Jro mefdi'kz'lwom,

Patented July 28, 1936 UNET 1 Claim.

This invention relates to improvements in shade supporting fixtures for usage in connection with portable and other types of electric lamps, commonly characterized in the pertinent art as a harp.

It is an object of the invention to provide a desirable, simple, and uncostly shade receiving and attaching element for a lamp harp, which when operatively connected thereto, will provide the shade with a pivotally adjustable mounting whereby such shade may be optionally moved to any one of a great number of relatively angular or tilted positions with respect to the lamp light source and firmly though releasably retained in said adjusted position to efiect a desired reflection of light rays.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a shade mounting element for a harp provided with a spring device serving a dual utility, i. e., as a means for rigidifying the relative positioning of said element with respect to the harp, whereby to insure a stable type of support for the lamp shade and to eiIectually and firmly retain the element in an adjusted position upon the harp against undesired movement, such for example, as pendulous swinging or vibratory motion, hence, retaining the shade in the desired position with relation to the light source.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a device of the character stated so constructed that it may be assembled and placed in operative arrangement, if need be, by unskilled labor, and in a minimum amount of time, thus, entailing considerable saving upon part of a manufacturer-user.

Other objects of the invention will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

In order that the invention and its mode of operation may be readily understood by those skilled in the art to which it appertains, I have in the accompanying drawing and in the detailed description based thereupon, set out one possible embodiment of my invention.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a lamp equipped with the improved harp, a lamp shade being shown in dotted lines and mounted thereon;

Figure 2 is a detail in perspective of the improved harp;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary detail in vertical section, taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1, looking in the direction in which the arrows point, and,

Figure 4 is a similar detail taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 1, looking in the direction in which the arrows point.

Having more particular reference to the drawing, in connection With which like characters of reference will designate corresponding parts throughout, the improved device comprises a supporting bracket or what is generally known in the art as a harp frame 8, consisting of a single length of wire or other suitable material bent into substantially inverted U-shaped formation, having the free ends of the opposite legs or lateral extremities thereof fixedly attached to the appropriately formed ends 2 of a fixture attaching bracket 3, the intermediate portion of which is formed with an apertured and somewhat en larged fiat hearing or. lamp standard engaging part adapted tobe engaged with the supporting rod, standard, or other appropriate part of a lamp base 5, in the manner illustrated in the Figure 1; an electric incandescent lamp fixture 6 being secured, as is usual, to the lamp standard or base and extended longitudinally of the harp for a portion of its length. An incandescent electric lamp 1, of course, is adapted to be turned into operative engagement with the lamp socket fixture B and as is also shown in the Figure i, this lamp is received within and disposed longitudinally of the upright harp frame i.

In order that a lamp shade, such as designated by the numeral 8 maybe efiectually supported from the harp frame LI provide the device with a mounting element 9, consisting of a screwthreaded shank provided with an annular shoulder or seat 10 upon its lower portion, and from which lower portion there is longitudinally extended an apertured cross-sectionally rectangularly shaped finger ii, the opening in said finger being of a size such as will permit of snug though movable engagement of the harp frame ll therethrough. 'A substantially dished, or concavoconvex washer or disc-like element i2 is slidably engaged over the free and normally lower end of the apertured finger l l and is moved into bearing engagement with the normally under side of the annular shoulder is and thus, is prevented from moving onto or over the screw-threaded shank portion of the mounting element $5. At this point, it is to-be noted that the element i2 is formed with a substantially concentrically located, generally circularly shaped opening l2 having two diametrically opposed enlarged portions of a size suificient to permit snug sliding passage of the apertured finger ll therethrough; also, that the cross-sectionally rectangularly shaped finger ll adjacent its point of jointure with the annular shoulder I0 is reduced in size by inwardly curving the opposite marginal portions thereof, as indicated by the numeral II, thus forming what may be aptly termed as a seat. When the finger I I is passed through the opening I2 and its diametrically opposed enlarged portions in the concavo-convex element I2 and said element is in abutting engagement with the adjacent side of the annular shoulder III, the finger II is then axially turned upon itself in the opening I2 to a position at substantially right angles or cross-wise of the diametrically opposed enlarged portions of the opening I2 in said element I2. In this way, it will be understood that the element I2 will be seatingly engaged upon the reduced inner end portion II of the finger II in abutting engagement with respect to the shoulder II], as shown in the Figures 3 and 4. Consequently when the outer marginal portions or edges of the concave-convex element I2 are engaged with adjacent portions of the harp I, an upward thrust will be imparted to said element, thereby bindingly engaging its upper portion in the seat I I and with adjacent portions of. the underside of the shoulder I0.

In assembling the improved fixture, the apertured finger II is sli-dably engaged over the harp frame I, prior to the fixing of one or both of thextremities of its leg portions in the ends 2 of the fixture attaching bracket 3; the concavo-convex element I2 having been previously mounted upon the element as above described. The mounting element is now moved to a position adjacent the upper end of the harp frame I, which portion of said harp frame, if desired, may be formed substantially straight, as designated by the numeral I3. The depth of the concavo-convex element I2 with respect to the length of the apertured finger H is such that the free marginal portions of the former will have spring-like binding engagement with the adjacent portions of the lamp harp frame I. Consequently thereupon, it will be understood that whereas the mounting element 9 will be permitted ofpivotal movement with respect. to the frame I, it will be bindingly and firmly secured in its adjusted position or relation with respect to such frame. That is, by reason of the interpositioning of the concavoconvex element I2 with respect to the annular shoulder III of the element 9 and the adjacent side of the harp frame I, a frictional connecting device will be effected between the shade mounting element 9 and the harp frame I, against the pressure of which pivotal movement of the mounting element 9 must be made.

It will be understood by workers skilled in the art, to mount the lamp shade 8 upon my improved harp, said shade is engaged over the harp in the manner as is shown in. Figure 1, whereupon the annular collar or bracket fitting I4 with which the said frame is normally provided, is engaged over the screw-threaded shank portions of the mounting element 9, said collar I4 resting or seating upon the adjacent or outer side of the annular shoulder I0, and thus, finding effectual support. At this time, a finial or other suitable locking device I5 is turned into engagement with said screw-threaded shank of the element 9 and into binding contact with the adjacent portion of the annular collar or bracket I4 of the shade 8.

If desired, that portion of a harp frame I with which the mounting element 9 is engaged may be formed with relatively spaced circumferentially extending ways or grooves I6, said grooves being so relatively spaced that the diametrically opposite edges or lower portions of the element I2 engaged therein, as shown in the Figures 2, 3, and 4. Thus, it will be understood that undesirable lateral shifting movement of the mounting element 9 with respect to the harp frame I during usage of the device will be prevented, in that the tension under which said concavo-convex element I2 is maintained, by reason of its engagement with the element 9 through the annular shoulder It, will be sufiicient to retain said diametrically opposite or opposed edges of the concave-convex element I2 in constant engagement with the grooves It.

In usage of a lamp equipped with my improved harp, should the user desire to tilt or move the shade 5 with respect to the incandescent element lamp 4, he need only grasp a convenient portion of said shade or the finial I5 and exert a pressure thereon sufficient to impart pivotal movement to the mounting element 9. When the shade has been adjusted or tilted to the desired'position with respect to the light source, the user releases the same, and it will be understood that by means of the binding-like action or frictional connection provided through the medium of the interpositioning frustroconoidal element I2, said mounting element 9, together with the shade will be firmly though movably retained in such position.

The concavo-convex element or washer I2 not only serves as a means for effecting a releasable anchoring connection between the mounting element 8 and the harp frame I, but it also functions a as a means for effectually rigidifying the relative positioning of said mounting element 9 with respect to that part of the harp frame I carrying it, thus, positively assuring the assembled lamp construction of stable structural characteristics.

Manifestly, theconstruction shown is capable of considerable modification, and such modification as comes within the scope of my claim, I consider within the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

Ashade attaching and supporting device for lamp shade harps, comprising a mounting element, an annular shoulder fixedly carried adjacent the lower end of the mounting element, a cross-sectionally rectangularly shaped apertured finger fixedly connected to the underside of the annular shoulder and co-axially disposed with relation to the mounting element, the opposite edges of said finger, at their points of jointure with the annular shoulder, being inwardly ,disposed and reducing the adjacent area of said fingenwhereby to provide a seat upon the finger adjacent the underside of the annular shoulder, and a concavo-convex washer having an opening formed substantially concentrically thereof through which said finger is substantially snugly passed and is adapted to be axially rotated, whereby to effect its arrangement transversely of said opening and seating engagement of the concentric portion of said washer on the reduced portion of the finger.

JEROME T. ATKINSON. 

